Curved support fixtures for shape control
The present invention is directed to a method for producing at least one glass substrate having a predetermined shape. The method includes providing a processing fixture configured to support the at least one glass substrate. The processing fixture includes at least one curved support member having a predetermined curvature. The at least one glass substrate is placed on the at least one curved support member. The at least one glass substrate is heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined temperature is below the glass softening point and sufficiently high enough to cause glass shape change, whereby the at least one glass substrate conforms to the predetermined curvature during the predetermined period of time.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to display glass substrates, and particularly to a method for providing a glass substrate having a predetermined shape.
2. Technical Background
In the current manufacturing process of Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (AMLCD) substrates, individual glass substrates are typically transferred, stored and transported in a horizontal configuration. Substrates may be formed by several techniques—one of the techniques is known as overflow “downdraw.” This technology is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,696 (Dockerty) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,609 (Dockerty), and is one of the few processes capable of delivering display substrate glass without requiring costly post substrate forming finishing operations, such as lapping and polishing.
These display substrates are incorporated into a variety of products including computer monitors, televisions, and numerous hand-held electronic devices such as PDAs and cellular phones.
Currently, there is a demand for larger and larger display sizes. This demand, and the benefits derived from economies of scale, is driving AMLCD manufacturers to process larger display substrates. In addition, there is also a demand for lighter and thinner displays. Unfortunately, this combination makes processing of glass in today's manufacturing lines more difficult—as the substrate size is increased and the glass thickness is decreased, the elastic sag of the glass substrate becomes a problem.
One origin of this sag can be understood by referring to
Contact between the glass sheet held by the end effecter and glass in the cassette can result in breakage, causing the manufacturer to lose the substrate product. This also causes an interruption of the manufacturing process and loss of production time. Other substrates in the cassette may also be lost due to surface contamination or damage from pieces of the broken substrate.
Another glass attribute of interest to the customer is thermal stability wherein a substrate maintains, as much as possible, its original length and width. Thermal processing at the manufacturer can compact (i.e. densify) a substrate and thereby reduce the original dimensions through subtle shrinkage. Greater thermal stability can be achieved by compacting the glass before shipment to the manufacturer. So, what is also achievable is a glass substrate that has increased thermal stability in the customers' manufacturing processes.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a substrate product that has thermal stability, and consistent and predictable sag characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention addresses the aforementioned needs. The present invention provides a substrate product that has smaller, consistent, and predictable sag characteristics. Further, the glass substrate of the present invention exhibits increased thermal stability.
One aspect of the present invention is a method for producing at least one glass substrate having a predetermined shape. The method includes providing a processing fixture including at least one curved support member having a predetermined curvature. The at least one curved support member is configured to support the at least one glass substrate. The at least one glass substrate is placed on the at least one curved support member. The at least one glass substrate is heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined temperature is below the glass softening point and sufficiently high enough to cause glass shape change, and possibly compaction, whereby the at least one glass substrate conforms to a predetermined curvature during the predetermined period of time, and may or may not experience compaction.
In another aspect, the present invention includes an apparatus for producing at least one glass substrate having a predetermined shape. The apparatus includes a processing fixture including at least one curved support member having a predetermined curvature. The at least one curved support member is configured to support the at least one glass substrate. A furnace is configured to heat the at least one glass substrate to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined temperature is below the glass softening point and sufficiently high enough to cause glass compaction, whereby the at least one glass substrate conforms to the predetermined curvature during the predetermined period of time.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. An exemplary embodiment of the processing fixture of the present invention is shown in
In accordance with the invention, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for producing glass substrates having a predetermined shape. The apparatus includes a processing fixture configured to hold the glass substrates. The processing fixture includes at least one curved support member having a predetermined curvature. A furnace is configured to heat the at least one glass substrate to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined temperature is below the glass softening point and sufficiently high enough to cause glass shape change, whereby the at least one glass substrate conforms to the predetermined curvature during the predetermined period of time. Thus, the present invention provides a substrate product that has smaller, consistent, and predictable sag characteristics. By further control of the thermal treatment, compaction can occur, resulting in glass substrates with increased thermal stability.
As embodied herein, and depicted in
As depicted in
It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art that modifications and variations can be made to curved support members 14 of the present invention depending on the thermal stability of the material. For example, curved support members 14 may be fabricated by machining a block of steel. A ceramic material may be used as well. However, curved support members 14 may be fabricated from any number of materials. First, the material must be readily machined or formed. Second, since cleanliness of the glass surface must be maintained, it must be non-friable. Third, the material must be relatively inert; it must not react or change the composition of the glass substrate in any way. Integrity of the glass surface is highly important, so chemical or physical interactions with the glass must not occur. Finally, the material must be thermally stable at process temperatures. There are other less critical considerations as well. The thermal expansion coefficient of the material should ideally be close to that of the glass. However, since the substrates are loosely held, this is not critical.
Sag variability is reduced by creating a consistent and intentional shape in the glass substrates. By constraining the shape of the substrates with the curved fixtures, the subsequent thermal processing will stress-relieve and anneal the substrates into the desired shape. Consequently, if a population of substrates exhibits shape variability, processing with curved fixtures will reduce the exhibited shape variability, and the variation in the amount of sag observed in a population of substrates will decrease. The overall magnitude of the sag observed in individual substrates is also reduced, and is accomplished through selective orientation of the bowed shape. In other words, during customer processing and cassette transport, the concave side of the bowed substrate is oriented downward.
Referring to
As noted above, the improved shape consistency made possible by the present invention benefits all manufacturing processes, not just transport into and out of cassettes.
EXAMPLEThe invention will be further clarified by the following example which is intended to be exemplary of the invention. In the example, a column chart depicts a decrease in substrate sag made possible through use of the present invention.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A method for producing at least one glass substrate having a predetermined shape, the method comprising:
- providing a processing fixture including at least one curved support member having a predetermined curvature, the at least one curved support member being configured to support the at least one glass substrate;
- placing the at least one glass substrate on the at least one curved support member; and
- heating the at least one glass substrate to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time, the predetermined temperature being below the glass softening point and sufficiently high enough to cause glass shape change, whereby the at least one glass substrate conforms to the predetermined curvature during the predetermined period of time.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing fixture includes a plurality of curved support members.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing fixture includes a plurality of curved support members for accommodating a plurality of glass substrates.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature is within a range of temperatures between 400-700° C.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is within a range of up to several hours.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined period of time is approximately one hour.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of cooling the at least one glass substrate, whereby the at least one glass substrate retains the predetermined curvature.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing includes fabricating the at least one curved support member from a relatively inert material that does not interact with or contaminate the at least one glass substrate at the predetermined temperature.
9. An apparatus for producing at least one glass substrate having a predetermined shape, the apparatus comprising:
- a processing fixture including at least one curved support member having a predetermined curvature, the at least one curved support member being configured to support the at least one glass substrate; and
- a furnace configured to heat the at least one glass substrate to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time, the predetermined temperature being below the glass softening point and sufficiently high enough to cause glass compaction, whereby the at least one glass substrate conforms to the predetermined curvature during the predetermined period.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one curved support member is fabricated from a relatively inert material that does not interact with or contaminate the at least one glass substrate when disposed in an environment having an ambient temperature that is less than or equal to 700° C.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the material includes steel.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the material is a ceramic material.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one curved support member includes a plurality of curved support members, each of the plurality of curved support members accommodating one glass substrate.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing fixture further comprises a plurality of alignment elements disposed between adjacent curved support members.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of alignment elements are adjustable such that the plurality of curved support members is movable between an open position and a closed position.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 3, 2003
Publication Date: May 5, 2005
Inventors: Janice Merola (Painted Post, NY), Robert Pfitzenmaier (Canisteo, NY), Brian Strines (Painted Post, NY)
Application Number: 10/700,172